coinworld
Well-known member
I recently upgraded from my AT Max to the Minelab Equinox 800 which I purchased late December 2018. I have used it maybe half dozen times. But in that short period of time I am very impressed thus far in its performance in the field. I live in Northern Virginia and I hunt exclusively civil war/colonial artifacts. I have had the opportunity to hunt a previously unknown virgin farm just South of Gettysburg, which we have determined to be part of the Gettysburg campaign of 1863.
In 2017 I was invited to hunt this 55 acre farm and I recovered numerous drop bullets, and period silver coins. I also dug my first Breastplate during Easter weekend 2017. Since that time nearly a dozen US plates, 2 CS wreath and tongues, a snake buckle, plus a Virginia State Seal Button, Block I, and a NC Starburst button have since been recovered. In other words this site has been hammered in the 2 years since I last hunted there by groups of many relic hunters.
Fast forward to March 1, 2019. I was invited by my gracious host to detect by myself. My first target was the highlight of my hunt- a Confederate Block I button basically 2 inches in the ground in heavily mineralized soil for Pennsylvania, I am used to heavy mineralized soil where I hunt and live here in Virginia. Why did previous hunters miss this target when my Nox 800 rang out high teens low 20s a nice target?
Fast forward again to last Friday March 22, 2019. I was invited a second time to hunt this site solo, my first target a modern fired bullet, but my second target at no more than 2-3,inches in the mud/muck was a square buckle that upon further inspection I realized what the heck I just recovered: My first Georgia frame buckle! Confederate baby! I could not believe it, no more than 10 minutes later and about 10 feet away I got a good hit on my Nox 800 ion the 21-22 range high tone which was consistent from all directions. After pinpointing at about 6 inches I popped the plug and was staring at a mud covered two piece button, a little water bath and BAM! A Virginia State Seal in beautiful condition.
These targets should have been recovered 2 years ago, not when I just detected this month. Were others just careless in their gridding, not having proper settings/ground balancing on thier detectors or did heavily mineralization play a roll? I’ll never know but I do know my Nox 800 sniffed out 3 highly sought after civil war relics, 2 Confederate buttons and a Confederate buckle that others should have recovered 2 years ago. I’ll be going back again in 2 weeks before farmer begins planting! Happy Hunting Nox users!
